Official Discussion Thread, "ESO Developer Deep Dive- Giving Tamriel's Characters Their Voice"

ZOS_Kevin · May 2023

This is the official discussion thread for, "ESO Developer Deep Dive- Giving Tamriel's Characters Their Voice"

"Learn about how all of Tamriel’s characters get their voices with this deep dive chat with ZeniMax Online Studio’s own VO Lead, @ZOS_BeckyIchnoski!"

Hey all, wanted to highlight your role in getting this deep dive to happen. Many of your have noted your interested in the voice-over acting process and have asked our VO Lead, Becky Ichnoski, many great questions over the years. Your continued interest around this aspect of game development inspired this peak behind the curtain. Thanks for your continued support around this aspect of our work and we how you enjoy the deep dive! Also, special thanks to Becky for taking the time to give us a peak behind the VO curtain!

*We'll be moving this to the news section after a few days.

thejadefalcon · May 2023

You guys have DB Cooper working for you? Quick, someone call the FBI.

Dr_Con · May 2023

I've always maintained that no matter what problems you say ESO has, the voice acting has never been one of them. Keep up the good work!

ZOS_Kevin · May 2023

@thejadefalcon I had to look this up and let me tell you, I was not expecting that bio.

Kesstryl · May 2023

I love the voice acting in ESO, thank you for writing this!

SimonThesis · May 2023

Love the voice acting in this game as well! The Voice Actors, Artists, Writers, and Musicians in this game are phenomenal.

phaneub17_ESO · May 2023

SimonThesis wrote: »

Love the voice acting in this game as well! The Voice Actors, Artists, Writers, and Musicians in this game are phenomenal. I just wish the bug fixers were as talented.

When voice actors have to read and write thousands line of code then we'll talk.

LINCARD1000 · May 2023

The VO team is always spot-on for the characters - and I really dig what you've done with the Argonian voices in the game in particular. With the ancient south/central/northern American indigenous influence in their visual aesthetic, have you ever cast indigenous voice actors for any of those Argonian roles?

There's also a recurring VA that you've used (not sure who) for at least a couple of Argonian NPCs who adds a particular sibilant "hiss" to their voices that I thought was really cool; the "creepy" Argonian on the dock in Stros M'Kai that you can talk with briefly as part of Izzy's companion questline, for example.

Anyhoo - nice work on the VO stuff in the game - the team has chosen really well for the various characters I reckon :-) Fascinating to get a bit of background into how it all comes together

thejadefalcon · May 2023

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

@thejadefalcon I had to look this up and let me tell you, I was not expecting that bio.

FayJolyn · May 2023

One of the best thing about this game is the amazing voice acting! Thank you for this look behind the curtain!

I've been trying to pin down the Khajiiti accent. What makes a good khajiit voice?

Also, will there be an interview with the cast on Twitch for Necrom's release? Fell in love with the VA's performance for Shap-as-Night during PTS testing. Would love to hear more from him and the others of course!

Keep up the good work! Cheers!

Codeman1976 · May 2023

I was going to comment on DB Cooper but looks like someone already beat me to it.

I would kill to be a voice actor for an Argonian character. It would be killer if we, the player, could incorporate our own character’s voice and bio into the game for others to experience.

DragonRacer · May 2023

FayJolyn wrote: »

One of the best thing about this game is the amazing voice acting! Thank you for this look behind the curtain!

I've been trying to pin down the Khajiiti accent. What makes a good khajiit voice?

Also, will there be an interview with the cast on Twitch for Necrom's release? Fell in love with the VA's performance for Shap-as-Night during PTS testing. Would love to hear more from him and the others of course!

Keep up the good work! Cheers!

Kevin confirmed in another thread that Sharp is voiced by Brandon Keener, who is largely known by BioWare fans as voicing Garrus Vakarian in the Mass Effect trilogy.

TaSheen · May 2023

DragonRacer wrote: »

FayJolyn wrote: »

One of the best thing about this game is the amazing voice acting! Thank you for this look behind the curtain!

I've been trying to pin down the Khajiiti accent. What makes a good khajiit voice?

Also, will there be an interview with the cast on Twitch for Necrom's release? Fell in love with the VA's performance for Shap-as-Night during PTS testing. Would love to hear more from him and the others of course!

Keep up the good work! Cheers!

Kevin confirmed in another thread that Sharp is voiced by Brandon Keener, who is largely known by BioWare fans as voicing Garrus Vakarian in the Mass Effect trilogy.

For what little I played ME, I remember the character with fondness. I played only enough of ME1 to roleplay an aging Drell on a forum now long gone.

The RP was fun.... but as with most other RP situations, RL intervened, so.... Unfortunate but true.

Jaraal · May 2023

Great article! Thanks for putting it together.

thejadefalcon wrote: »

You guys have DB Cooper working for you? Quick, someone call the FBI.

That was my first thought as well. I guess some of us are showing our age!

Hotdog_23 · May 2023

Thanks for the article, it was fascinating to read the whole process from start to finish. Sounds like as much work as I imagined it would be, and more. Wonder how much if any of VO will be taken over by audio programs in the future? Can’t imagine it as any less work for the developer.

Stay safe

Mofasa · May 2023

I just love the dialect some npcs have in the reach, it's just lovely.

I don't have a sub right now but I think maybe Orla had the best voice and dialect, we need more like this!!
What is it, Scottish or Irish dialect?

SimonThesis · May 2023

Love the voice acting for Justiciar Farowel in Alinor!